Measuring instrument.



L. A. HAWTHORNE.

MEASURING INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED APII. I6, 1914.

Patented June 8, 1915..

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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ou Arme/VHS HE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHom-LITHD., WASHINGTQN, D. C.

L. A. HAWTHORNE.

MEASURNG INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED APR.16, I9I4.

Patented June 8, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Wl TNESSES:

Lg ,Irma/vars THE NORRIS PETERS CQ, PHOTCLLITHO., WASHING TUN. D. c,

L. A. HAWTHORNE.

MEASURING INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I6. I9I4.

1,142,428. Panted June 8,1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

L Arm/INEI;

HOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, DA C.

LOUrs A, HAWTHORNE, or' 'iin'wamg NawV JERSEY.

IWEASURING INSTRUMENT.

speeifieatien of Letters Patent.

- Patented June s, 1915.

Application filed April 16, 1914. Serial No. 832,257.

T0 all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, Louis A. HAWTHORNE,

a citizen of the United States, residing at relates tothe construction of an improved' planimeter having novel means whereby the area of plotted planefigures of either regular or irregular outline and of any size, is quickly and accurately` determined.

Planimeters as heretofore constructed are provided with a graduated rotatable measuring-wheel and with a tracing'arm having a pointer or index finger which is caused to trace the plotted outline of thefgure of which the area is being determined. Such instruments iof precision are very delicate and their manufacture involves a degree of workmanship and skill such as to make such planimeters very expensive, while great care must be exercised in the use of such instruments in order to obtain accurate'results.

A prepared surface over which the traveling measuring wheel moves also must be vprovided, so that frequently the plane. figure being measured Vmust be plotted upon alarger sheet of paper or on an enlarged scale', in order to provide the track or space necessary to accommodate the measuring wheel. K

One object of my invention is to provide a planimeter ofV improved construction having novel means by which the plotted area of a plane figure of any outline fis easily and quickly determined. Another object of the invention isvto provide a planimeter which is durable, is simple in construction and which can be made at much less cost thanthe instruments of this character now obtainable.

A further object of the invention is to provide a planimeter in which the number of parts is lessened, disarrangement of the assembled parts is avoided, liability-'of inaccuracies resulting therefrom is avoided and prevented. l

A still further Object of the-invention is in the novel combination and arrangement o f the parts as is more fully pointed out in the specification and appended claims..`

Referring-to the-drawings, forming part p `the measuring operation. Fig-6 is a plan Vof this specication, Figure 1 is a plan illustrating a combination planimeterv and protractor, constructed and arranged inaccordance withl my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same, the section being taken on the line II-II ofFig. 1. Fig. 8

showing the relative position of the planimeter and the drawing of anirregular plane figure at the beginning ofthe operation of measuring the plotted ligure. Fig. ,4 is.-a similar plan,showing`the relative position ofthe planimeter with respect to the plotted,` .figure at the end of the first measuring step.

is a plan, similar to that shown in Fig. 1,!

Fig. 5 is a plan, similar to that shown in Figs. l, 3 and 4, showing the relative positions of the p lanimeter and ligure being measured,at the' end of a further step in like .that of Figsle andp, showing,'relatively, the positions ofthe planimeterl and the -figure at the end of a still furtherstep in the measuring operation. AFig? is a planshowing a modied form of arm adapted for use on the instrument. Y

11n the accompanying drawings the letter A designates a disk which is opaque or transparentand which may be made of celluloid or a similar material. 'An `arm B,Ywhich .is transparent and preferably is flexible and which may be conveniently made of celluloid, is pivotablysecured at oneend there-l of, to the center of the disk AA by means of a rivet or other suitable fastening C. The

Vrivet is flanged and is provided with a small hole D which extends` lengthwise through the rivet to enable the disk and arm to be detachably secured to the drawing or surfaceupon which the ligure to ybe measured or determined is plotted, while permitting .rota-tion of the disk A and. arm B. TheY disk, at 'its periphery isscored or marked with a series of equally spaced radial lines E arranged to indicate angles in degress. The number ofv sub-division will depend largely upon the diameter of the disk, so

' that when of suflicient size 360 degreesand also minutes or fractional parts of a degree ymay readily be indicated thereon. The arm B is provided with a medial lin G scored on the surface -thereof and a small opening or holeH is formed in the arm to a intersect the radial line, this hole being provided for convenience in measuring angles when using the' instrument as a protractor. Also scoredupon the surface of the pivoted formed, which extends through arms B so as to intersect the medial line G is a series of short concentric curved lines marked 5, 10, l5, 20, etc., the outer one of these lines being marked 50, and between each of the marked lines are four similar shorter and unmarked lines, dividing the distance between the marked lines into five spaces. Along one edge of the arm between each of the curved lines a small hole I, is the arm B for a purpose explained later. The lines 5, 10 etc., need not necessarily be curved, but may be straight or may be replaced by a series of dots or points when desired.

The unit of measurement employed in making the instrument illustrated is a square inch although any other unit of measurement may be used. In constructing the measuring instrument or planimeter the line or mark 5 is struck from the axial center D of the arm B at a distance so that the intersection of this mark with the medial line on the arm is the same as the radius of a circle having an area of exactly 5 square inches. The next or 6th line intersects the radial line at a distance from the axial center, of the radius of a circle having an area of exactly 6 square inches. lt will be seen in this way the area of the annulus formed by circles of .the radii of the lines 5 and G will have an area of exactly l square inch. Each line, successively from the inner line 5 outward to the outer line 50, is spaced from the next adjacent line at a distance equaling the radius of a circle having an area of l square inch more than that of the preceding line, so that the outer line 50, i the instrument illustrated forms the radius of a circle having an area of exactly 50 square inches.

l/Vhile the unit of measurement used in describing my improved apparatus is the square inch, obviously the'apparatus may be scored or marked to employ the metric system or any other desired system.

ln the drawings, an irregular ligure m is shown, and the operation of the instrument in measuring the area of this plotted ligure will now be described.

ln using my improved planimeter, the instrument is irst placed over the plotted iigure a, whose area is to be determined, with the medial line G located at one extreme of the plotted ligure, and with some one Lof the curved lines 5.10, etc., or intermediate lines on the arm G on a line intersecting the extreme upper end or limit of the plotted iigure of as shown in Fig. 8. After the planimeter is so positioned, a pin or other sharp pointedfinstrument is inserted in the axial opening D of the rivet C, which is the pivotal center lli/l of the armB, to pivotally secure the arm and disk A to the surface on which the ligure X is plotted, while permitting the disk, and also the arm B, to be rotated or turned about the pivotal center or pivot pin in the hole D. v

The arm B isA swung or moved until the medial line, G thereon, intersects with the left hand side or the extreme point on the left hand side of the plotted figure, which as shown in Fig. 3 will be between the curved lines 29 and 30. The disk A. is then turned relatively to the arm B until the graduation marked 0 thereon coincides with the medial line G. rllhe disk A is then held against rotation, While the arm B is moved angularly relatively to the disk A from left to right until the portion of the radial line G between the curved graduations 29 and 550 on the arm B traverses the outline of the plotted figure and is in the position shown in Fig. il. This movement of the arm B measures the portion of the plotted ligure bounded by the curved lines 29 and 80, and the points K'and L of the iigure X, the area of the measured portion being indicated on the disk A and as will be seen equals about one-half of 5/100 of a square inch. As the irregular contour of the figure is such that the portion of the medial line G between the lines 29 and 30 will, with further movement, be moved outside the plotted figure, the disk A is now released to permit it to rotate with the radial arm B, while the arm is being turned to the position shown in Fig. 5, in which the radial line between the curved lines 29 and 30 intersects the point M of the plotted figure X. The disk A is then again held to prevent rotation thereof while the arm B is moved with respect to the plotted figure X from left to right from the point M until in the position. shown in Fig. G. ln this position the part of the radial line between the curved lines 29 and 30 is at the point, where it is about to move beyond the point N on the plotted figure and outside of the figure. lll/*hen in this position, the radial line G on the arm registers with the mark 5 inside of the radial line on the disk A, which indicates one-twentieth of a circle or with the graduations shown 5/100 of i square inch.

lNhile the above described operations are being performed, a pencil or other sharp instrument is held in the small opening ll located on the arm B `between the curved lines 29 andBO so as to indicate to the operator the portion of the plottedv figure X being measured, After the radial arm has been moved with respect to the plotted figure X from the position shown in Fig. 3, into that shown in Fig. 6, in the manner as has been described the sharp instrument is transferred from the hole l between the lines 29 and 30, into the one between the lines 28 and 29. The disk A and arm B are then moved together from right to left until the medial line G on the arm again coincides with the extreme point P on the left of the plotted llt) p disk A and arm B, in order that the measured portion of the plotted figure then indicated by the position of the arm onthe disk lis not rendered inaccurate.

The flanges on the rivet will frictonally engage the disk and arm so as to ordinarily cause the arm and disk to move together.

'Ihe disk A is then again held against rotation and the arm is again moved from left to right until the portion ot the medial line G between the curved lines 28 and 29 coincides with the line Q of the plotted figure.

lVhen irregularities in the outline of the plotted figure require, the disk A will be released to permit it to move with the arm By until the medial line on the arm between the lines 28 and 29 again crosses the outline of the figure. The arm B then moved relatively7 tothe disk A until the line G between the curved lines 28 and 29 crosses the line outlining the figure on the right of the figure shown in the drawings. By this series movements, the medial arm A will have moved further with respect to the point O on the disk, to record the area of a further portion of the total areal ofthe figure being measured. strument employed is then moved into the hole between the lines 27 and 28 on the arm to indicate the portion of the figure neXt to .l be measured. The arm and the disk are then shifted from right to left without relative movement, as has been described, until the line Gr, at a point between the curved lines 27 and 28 on the arm, crosses the line deiining the plotted ligure at the extreme left of the figure. The steps as described are then repeated as often as is required in order to compass the entire plotted ligure, the operator successively moving the pencil or other instrument into the next hole I of the series of holes between the curved lines on the arm and taking care to always move the arm relatively to the disk when measuring a portion of the figure and to cause the arm and disk to move in unison at all other times.

The area of plotted figures larger than the planimeter in size may be measured by iirst sub-dividing the figure into parts of a size capable of being measured'by the instrument and by placing the planimeter with respect' angle.

The pencil or other pointed in angles, the axial center' of the arm is positioned at the'intersectionoi" the lines markturned untill tha() point on the outside series of graduations of the disk,intersects with the radial line G on the arm. The disk is then held against rotation while the arm B is turned until the radial line on the arm intersects with the other line of the The angle measured will then be indicated in degrees and parts of adegree by the position of the radial line on the arm with respect to the outer series of gradua-V tions on the disk A. f

The advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled. in the art. The de# vice is simple, can be made and sold for much lessY than the ordinary .type of planimv Vdeparting' from my invention as deined in the appended claims. The arm may be constructed as shown in Fig. 7 with one edge thereof in line with the pivotal vcenter of the arm and in this way avoid the necessity of scoring the medial line thereon. The intersecting lines on the arm may be re# placed by dots or other marks and other changes may be made.

I claim:

l. A planimeter comprising a graduated disk and a graduated arm pivoted on the disk, the graduations on the arm -being spaced to correspond to the difference of the radii of annuli of equal area. Y i

2. A planimeter comprising a graduated disk and a graduated arm pivoted on the disk, the graduations on the arm being spaced to correspond to the diiference of the radii of annuli of equal area and having an opening through the aXial center of the disk and arm. Y

1 3; A planimeter comprising a graduatedl disk and a graduated arm formed of transparent material, said Yarm lbeing pivoted on the disk and the graduations being spacedk thereon to correspond to thevdifference of the radii of annuli of equal area.

4. A planimeter comprising a graduated disk formed of transparent material, and a transparent arm pivoted on the disk, said Varm having graduations thereon spaced to correspond to the difference ofthe radii of annuli of equal area. 5. A planimeter comprising a disk having a series of radial lines thereon forming a series of graduations, and an arm pvotahy secured to the disk, said arm having a me dial line and a series of intersecting lines thereon, said intersecting lines being spaced on the arm to Correspond to the derence of the radii of annul of equal area.

6. A planmeter comprising a rst mem* ber having a series of graduatons thereon, a second member having graduatons thereon and forming a Center around which the rst member is rotated, and graduatons being spaced on said first member to oorrespend to the derence of Ythe radii of annuh of equal area.,

n testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

LOUS A. HAVTHORNE.

'Vtnesses H. F. FLOHN, JOI-IN l SWINBANK.

Gepes af this pater-1t may be obtained or ve cents eeen, by addressing the Cnmmssiener of atente.

. Washington, D. 

